KHAYIM KOTILYANSKI

KHAYIM KOTILYANSKI (1888-June 20, 1958)

            A collector and singer of Yiddish folksongs and Hassidic melodies, he was born in Zhitomir, Ukraine.  He studied medicine at Königsberg University and music at the local conservatory.  He came to the United States as a soloist with a Russian troupe of singers and dancers.  He quickly separated from them and for many years appeared by himself in concerts of Yiddish folk music.  His works include: Folks-gezangen as interpreted by Chaim Kotylansky, a collection of Chassidic songs and chants, Yiddish-Ukrainian folk songs and “shteiger-lieder” (English with Yiddish originals for the songs) (Los Angeles: IKUF, 1944; second edition, 1954), 152 pp.  He died in Los Angeles.

Sources: Yidishe kultur (New York) 7 (1958), 5 (1961); M. Yardeni, in Yidishe klutur 8 (1973); Yeshurin archive, YIVO (New York).

Yekhezkl Lifshits